Fascinating story of the doctor on the Titanic

A meeting of Coleraine Family History Society featured a talk on an aspect of the Titanic tragedy which has rarely been touched on by historians.

“A Titanic Story – Dr John Edward Simpson, Assistant Surgeon” was delivered by his great nephew, Dr John Martin, a retired hospital doctor from Killinchy.

On board Titanic, Dr Simpson was one of a medical staff of five which included a senior surgeon and three nursing assistants.

When the liner struck the iceberg in mid-Atlantic on the night of 14-15th April 1912, Dr Simpson carried out his duties, as reported later by a nurse who survived the sinking, Other reports given to the Inquiry into the tragedy,said Dr Simpson was seen to assist the ship’s crew to release one of the lifeboats which had become snagged due to the severe listing of the ill-fated vessel. He became one of the more than 1,500 men, women and children who did not survive the sinking of the “Titanic”. Dr Simpson, who was 36 years old, was survived by his wife and a young son.